On 20 September, 2001, President George Walker Bush addressed the Nation in a Joint Session of Congress, in the wake of the terror attacks upon America on 11 September, 2001. At this time in history, the United States needed direction and support for how it was going to deal with the most costly and bloodiest terrorist attacks in the Nation’s history: the American people demanded the President address the Nation after the attacks, and nine days later, the President delivered his speech. Across the country, emotions ran high in America and many were in constant fear for their lives and their country. “Is another attack coming?” “What will be the next target?” “Could this be the end of the world?” many pondered. Throughout the country the airlines halted service, the New York Stock Exchange temporarily suspended its operations and nearly every television station around the country relayed the latest news covering the latest developments in those uncertain times. The American people prodded answers from their leaders, “Who’s responsible?” “Why did they do this?” “What’s next?” So when President addressed the nation not only did he have to answer those questions, but he also had to quash fears and reinstill a sense of pride and stability in the American people. Hailed by many, “The speech that made the Bush Presidency,” the President utilized several techniques, explicit and implicit, that had effectively neutralized public fears and persuaded the people toward collective action. To understand why the speech was as effective as it was, one has to look at two major components that when used together, effectively communicated his platform to those it addressed. These components are: the emotional state of the population, and the rhetorical persuasion techniques which mobilized the American people into collective action.

The Emotional State of the Nation: Post 9/11

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